Alternative EnergySponsored by <a href="http://www.directive21.com">LPC Survival</a>Tue, 26 Sep 2017 21:37:07 +0000Tue, 26 Sep 2017 21:37:07 +0000Welcome to the Homesteading Today Forum and Community!https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/forums/alternative-energy.54/
Setting piersMon, 11 Sep 2017 16:28:50 +0000https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/setting-piers.565518/
https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/setting-piers.565518/invalid@example.com (MontanaCowboy)MontanaCowboy
I own an off-grid ranch secluded deep on a Montana mountain. We've been living on generators and battery banks/inverters (that charge from the generators) and I'm in the process now of installing a complete solar power system. Since I'll never be able to eliminate generators completely (for farm equipment/welders/etc.) I bought a system just to meet the needs of my house to at least eliminate running generators at night (after...

Setting piers]]>7Wood gassifier...any one having easy enough and tested plans to build my own?Wed, 06 Sep 2017 22:53:42 +0000https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/wood-gassifier-any-one-having-easy-enough-and-tested-plans-to-build-my-own.565289/
https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/wood-gassifier-any-one-having-easy-enough-and-tested-plans-to-build-my-own.565289/invalid@example.com (Meinecke)Meinecke
Since Murby brought up this subject in the Solar array subject, i was googling around and found about a ton of things how to do it, but they were all so different, that i was hoping, that someone here uses a diy one and can provide useful tips, plans, tricks or what ever...
Cause it looks like that such a device ends on my to-do list...
Thx in advance

This one here looks pretty doable for non prfessional steel workers:
]]>16Powerwall questionWed, 06 Sep 2017 18:19:44 +0000https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/powerwall-question.565469/
https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/powerwall-question.565469/invalid@example.com (Meinecke)Meinecke
I am in the middle of my House electric changes planing and was wondering if anyone here already has experiences with any kind of full House UPS like Powerwall or similar...
I am not talking about off grid...
Just can't life with all the brown and blackouts here in our rural area and would like stopping to place small UPS in every corner when i could have a house wide one...
Can these kind of devices even used, when no solar is in place yet, to straighten the house electricity?...

Powerwall question]]>1My new Solar Array..Sun, 27 Aug 2017 23:45:26 +0000https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/my-new-solar-array.564775/
https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/my-new-solar-array.564775/invalid@example.com (Murby)Murby
I still have five more columns (20 more panels) too hook up yet but we are producing.

Designed and built the system myself.. Using SMA SunnyBoy inverter and SolarWorld panels for a total DC rating of 7.56 KW and I have another 2000 watts of extra panels I...

My new Solar Array..]]>27over-looked energy saving devicesSun, 27 Aug 2017 17:01:59 +0000https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/over-looked-energy-saving-devices.220498/
https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/over-looked-energy-saving-devices.220498/invalid@example.com (MELOC)MELOCover-looked energy saving devices]]>106Info Source Help: 120v circuit panel wiringWed, 23 Aug 2017 00:41:10 +0000https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/info-source-help-120v-circuit-panel-wiring.565080/
https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/info-source-help-120v-circuit-panel-wiring.565080/invalid@example.com (Steve_S)Steve_S
I'm trying to help a friend out with info and am trying to find a website / docs they can refer to for their project & i'll be damned if I can find something simple & clear cut. I'm hoping someone here has a good link to such, so here is the scenario below. I'd go & do it for them but they're now 700kms from me, so not an option.

They are planning to hook up a 2100w solar & 400w wind system (diy) using a classic 200 controller, a 24v/3000 watt Inverter/Charger with 120v...

Info Source Help: 120v circuit panel wiring]]>3Looking for advice on wood stove heating coil projectFri, 18 Aug 2017 19:55:36 +0000https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/looking-for-advice-on-wood-stove-heating-coil-project.565039/
https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/looking-for-advice-on-wood-stove-heating-coil-project.565039/invalid@example.com (sain6815)sain6815
Looking forward to being a part of the community. This is my first real post. I'm looking for advice on whole home heating with my wood stove insert. I have an older large triple walled buck stove insert that was already installed when i moved in.

I'm looking to add a coil made from stainless or iron pipe in the firebox. I plan to use an open tank so there is no pressure and circulate water from the firebox to the tank via thermosyphoning. My plan is to use one circulator...

Thanks]]>3Any ideas for simulating my Ground mount with shade/sun?Wed, 02 Aug 2017 14:50:22 +0000https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/any-ideas-for-simulating-my-ground-mount-with-shade-sun.564585/
https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/any-ideas-for-simulating-my-ground-mount-with-shade-sun.564585/invalid@example.com (Meinecke)Meinecke
I am in the process of buying a property, but while i am waiting i want to simulate shading etc on the Panels, that i want to mount on Ground...
Will be Tracking system, similar to this at this link: https://cdn.instructables.com/FEP/253H/IVHQEG0L/FEP253HIVHQEG0L.MEDIUM.jpg
But i would like to create the system on paper first with knowing how to arange to limit shade etc...

Any ideas of an online or software based designer for such stuff??!

Thx in advance]]>20Replacement batteries for off-grid...Wed, 02 Aug 2017 01:04:49 +0000https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/replacement-batteries-for-off-grid.564584/
https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/replacement-batteries-for-off-grid.564584/invalid@example.com (Al Yaz)Al Yaz
Anway, right now we have twelve 2v Davidson FLA batteries, hooked up in series for a 24v bank. They are 1065 a/hrs.

I have been reading a bit about newer FLA’s with carbon, and Lithiums. I don’t think I would go with nickel iron batteries, because of their initial high cost -even though...

Replacement batteries for off-grid...]]>13Solar power source for patio lights and fountain?Fri, 28 Jul 2017 15:17:59 +0000https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/solar-power-source-for-patio-lights-and-fountain.564568/
https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/solar-power-source-for-patio-lights-and-fountain.564568/invalid@example.com (otherchuck)otherchuck
Firstly, allow me to disclaim that I know very little about solar power, but am keen to learn. My wife and I live in southern California, USA, and are looking into solar power to go off-grid (big job...not imminent), but in the meantime, I have a smaller solar agenda:

We have a fountain in our garden and a patio pergola with a string of Provence-style hanging lights; both of those were powered by an outlet that has died, and currently the only way to get power out to them...

Solar power source for patio lights and fountain?]]>3Solar panel help.....Fri, 28 Jul 2017 12:37:04 +0000https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/solar-panel-help.564508/
https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/solar-panel-help.564508/invalid@example.com (Mike Jones)Mike JonesView attachment 61150
View attachment 61151View attachment 61152
Hello all, this is my first time posting and asking for assistance, so please be patient. Recently i purchased a used solar panel that I'd like to use to keep my rv batteries charged while camping for 10+ days. It is a HYM-90 panel that has a black box and cord attached to back. At the end of the cord is a FEMALE 20 amp plug. The maximum power voltage is 17.9V and the maximum power Current is 5.03A. I'm thinking that...

Solar panel help.....]]>18Looking for more alt. energy forumsMon, 24 Jul 2017 13:17:33 +0000https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/looking-for-more-alt-energy-forums.418788/
https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/looking-for-more-alt-energy-forums.418788/invalid@example.com (Ky-Jeeper)Ky-Jeeper
TIA, Ky-Jeeper.]]>20Charging 18v tool batteries from solar.Mon, 24 Jul 2017 12:32:46 +0000https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/charging-18v-tool-batteries-from-solar.564430/
https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/charging-18v-tool-batteries-from-solar.564430/invalid@example.com (IronRing)IronRing
I'm looking to charge 18v tool batteries from solar panels. I have collected 12v 87w worth of panels, and i'm going to use a 12v vehicle charger to charge the tool batteries (ryobi). i intend to simply get a small pwm charge controller, but what size battry do i need in the system between the charge controller and the ryobi charger?

Off grid well pump...]]>7Oklahoma solar projects. Classes?Tue, 18 Jul 2017 17:10:02 +0000https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/oklahoma-solar-projects-classes.564306/
https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/oklahoma-solar-projects-classes.564306/invalid@example.com (ScotchCollies)ScotchCollies
contact me through our Scotch Collie web site contact page.http://scotchcollie.net/interest-form.html]]>Moving Air ?Tue, 18 Jul 2017 17:05:25 +0000https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/moving-air.560562/
https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/moving-air.560562/invalid@example.com (AmericanStand)AmericanStand
In my small cabin it seems like there is always a fan running and usually more.
During the winter the heat stratifies in the foot closest to the ceiling and has to be forced back to floor level or up I to the loft.
I also run a fan in the bathroom that forces air under the tub and behind the washer to prevent frozen pipes.
Any thoughts on moving air ?]]>20Solar beginningsTue, 18 Jul 2017 16:53:17 +0000https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/solar-beginnings.561287/
https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/solar-beginnings.561287/invalid@example.com (TraderBob)TraderBob
I am getting ready to install a 48 volt system.

I currently have an Outback FlexMax80, 10 320 watt 24 volt panels, and 8 L16HC XC2 420ah batteries. This is 1/2 the total, I will double this over the next year.

I still need a disconnect and inverter/charger and would like to be able to connect it directly to my breaker box (120 volt) 6 lines. There will actually be very few 120 volt items,...

Solar beginnings]]>6A present from European union...Maybe someone can take advantage of itTue, 18 Jul 2017 13:29:10 +0000https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/a-present-from-european-union-maybe-someone-can-take-advantage-of-it.564299/
https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/a-present-from-european-union-maybe-someone-can-take-advantage-of-it.564299/invalid@example.com (Meinecke)Meinecke
Already got so much out of this forum, that i think it is time to contribute something
Not sure how many of you are struggling with inaccurate ideas how much they need or get with a System of XYZ...
I was doing so, i finally got a great hint...
Especially because i am planing tracking Panels...
Hopefully i am not just excited and everyone knows already...SMILEhttp://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg_tools/en/tools.html
Lower left...enter your location
Right side, decide what you...